All eyes on Clarke Schmidt as insiders call his return a game-changer for Yankees
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Follow UsClarke Schmidt will rejoin the New York Yankees’ rotation on Wednesday for his long-awaited season debut against the Kansas City Royals. While the right-hander is still working his way back from a rotator cuff injury that delayed his season start, several insiders believe his return could play a critical role in steadying a shaky Yankees rotation.
Despite suffering significant injuries to their pitching staff, the Yankees—currently leading the AL East—have managed just two quality starts in their first 17 games, both courtesy of Max Fried. With Marcus Stroman on the injured list due to knee inflammation, Gerrit Cole out for the season, and Luis Gil still sidelined with a lat strain, Schmidt is viewed as much-needed reinforcement.
Insiders see Clarke Schmidt as vital to Yankees’ success
“Clarke Schmidt may not be a savior, exactly,” wrote The Athletic‘s Tyler Kepner, “but in this context, he’s at least a sight for sore arms.” Kepner emphasized that Schmidt’s return is both timely and necessary, given the lack of dependable options in the Yankees’ rotation. Entering the Kansas City series, New York held the worst starters’ ERA in Major League Baseball—a statistic that underscored their urgent need for consistency.
Yahoo Sports’ R.J. Anderson echoed that sentiment, stating that Schmidt’s presence could help the Yankees “increase their points” and potentially bring stability to the current rotation mix. Anderson noted that rookie Will Warren has shown promising pitch-quality metrics but added that one breakout alone won’t be enough. “You have to imagine the Yankees will find a way to get more from at least one or two of the arms listed above,” he wrote. “But Schmidt’s return is the biggest immediate step forward.”
Yankees betting on Clarke Schmidt to deliver under pressure
Even within the clubhouse, the importance of Schmidt’s comeback is acknowledged. “It’s important,” said manager Aaron Boone. “We’re counting on Clarke. We expect a lot from him now.”
Clarke Schmidt, 29, is coming off a breakout 2023 season in which he posted a 2.85 ERA over 85 innings—the 10th best in baseball among pitchers with at least that workload. He made 32 starts in the regular season and was trusted with a Game 3 start in the postseason. While his World Series outing against the Dodgers was rocky, insiders have praised his ability to learn from adversity.
“That’s what separates elite pitchers,” Schmidt recently told reporters. “They take adversity in stride and use it to adjust, whether emotionally or physically. That’s what I’m trying to do.”
Max Fried, the Yankees’ lone consistent starter thus far, spoke highly of Schmidt. “He’s got a lot of the same sort of pitch mix as I do,” Fried said. “He’s able to move the ball around, change speeds, and keep hitters off balance. We’ll definitely take a talent like Clarke.”
Young core developing, but rotation needs veteran help
Talkin’ Baseball podcast co-host Jake Storiale also weighed in, noting that while the Yankees’ young talent—Ben Rice, Anthony Volpe, and Jasson Dominguez—has impressed, the team still needs dependable pitching to be viewed among MLB’s elite. “They’ve got big talent,” Storiale said, “but they need to prove consistency.”
With so many insiders highlighting Clake Schmidt’s return as a turning point, the Yankees are hopeful that his season debut marks the beginning of a more balanced, reliable rotation—one capable of sustaining the team’s strong start.
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